Bye Bye, Mr. Rat!

Today is the last day of the year of the Rat. Chinese all over the world celebrate Chinese New Year's Eve with their family by having reunion dinner. When the clock strikes 12 tonight, a new year of the Ox begins in the Chinese lunar calender.

Chinese Night

Our Chinese friend, A, invited Mama Pig and Golden Piglet to her place for dinner tonight. Our Japanese friend, Y, was also there with her cutie pie, A, aka Midori's best friend.

A made Jiaozhi and mini spring rolls and they were really yummy. It was the first time that Midori tasted these 2 Chinese specialties and our greedy Piglet totally loved them.
Since it was only 2 days to Chinese New Year, I made tangyuan, glutinous rice balls in syrup, for dessert. The pink ones had peanut filling whereas the blue and green ones were just plain sticky rice balls.
In my family, we always make colorful tangyuan. I have fond childhood memories of me and my younger brother happily helping our mom make colorful tangyuan in all sorts of colors and shapes, much to our mom's frustration and amusement. Oh, how I miss my family during this time of the year.

Thank u for having us over for dinner, A!

Cheers,

Mama Pig & Golden Piglet

Hello, Dell!

Oink! Oink! Oink! Mama Pig got a brand new notebook!!!
Papa Pig bought Mama Pig a green Dell Inspiron after her old Acer died. Yeah, now Mama Pig can googletalk with Midori's dearest MM99 again!

Thank U, Papa Pig!

Love,

Mama Pig

Oh My Darling, Clementine!

Papa Pig came back from work today and saw our Golden Piglet happily peeling and eating a clementine while Mama Pig was napping on the couch. Papa Pig and Mama Pig were so amused at the sight, but our lil' greedy Piglet ignored us and carried on eating.

Guess, Midori was in Chinese New Year spirits cos clementines are the closest fruit to mandarin oranges here in Germany.

Historic US Presidential Inauguration

Today is a historical day in the American history. It is the first time that an African American was sworn in as US president.

Barrack Hussein Obama makes history as the first African American president of the United States of America.

Obama is a charismatic statesman who has reignited hopes not just among Americans, but also many people around the world. Regardless of age, races or nationalities, many are now more hopeful amid such depressive economic times.
The 3 Lil' Pigs couldn't help but catch the Obamania which is spreading like wild fires. Even Midori's beloved grandma in Indonesia is both glad and relief now that President Obama takes office. So of course, Mama Pig and Papa Pig had to make Midori witness history in the making and be part of it.

Yes, We Can!

My First Sled Ride!

It has stopped snowing for a couple of days now, but the temperature remains below zero so the snow is still everywhere, much to my delight.
We joined several of Stephan's colleagues for sledding on the 420 meter high Landeskrone hill here in Görlitz this afternoon.

It was Mama Pig's first time at sledding and I totally loved it!

The film below shows Papa Pig and Mama Pig on a sled.

Stephan freaked me out when he wanted to sled alone with Midori on the adult sled. I vetoed it because it was way too dangerous for our little Piglet.Too bad our Golden Piglet wasn't enjoying herself as much as Mama Pig and Papa Pig because her tiny hands and feet were freezing the sub-zero temperature and the harsh wind blowing on her cheeks made it worse. Thus we had to leave earlier despite the fun.

Mama Pig loves sledding so much so that she is thinking of buying a sled.

Midori Walks!

Yipee! Our Sweetie Pie is finally walking on her own!

Mama Pig and Papa Pig were so thrilled when Golden Piglet started taking her first steps a week ago. Since then we have been encouraging her to walk more steps everyday and today she walked a couple of meters!

Go, Midori! Go!

Selamat Ulang Tahun, BB!

11.01 is a very special day for my family, because a stork delivered an angel to the Lee family some XX years ago. From that very day onwards, this lucky baby has brought our Papa and Mama lots of luck and continues to enrich everyone in the family with unconditional love, silly laughter and unwavering support even at her own expense. Yes, our precious BB has an enormous heart and a self-sacrificing nature.
BB is a filial daughter, the best any parent could wish for.
BB is a superb sister, the best any sibling could wish for.
BB is a precious sister-in-law, the best anyone could wish for.
BB is a great aunt, the best any nephew and niece could wish for.

We are blessed to be related to u, BB!

Happy Birthday, my dearest precious sister!!!

Here's wishing u lots of happiness, health, wealth, peace, and of course TRUE LOVE!

Hug & Kisses,

Lily + Stephan = Midori
aka
The 3 Lil Pigs in the now freezing Germany

Sledding

Despite the freezing weather, the thick white snow has been luring kids out with their sleds. While big kids are sledding from the slopes filling the air with laughters and sometimes cries of pain, toddlers are grinning away as their mothers pull their baby sleds on the streets.We bought our Pumpkin a sled, but we had to wait till she had recovered from her cold before we brought her out for sledding.
Our Golden Piglet loves sledding, even though Mama Pig was more excited than her piglet whose enthusiasm might have been dampened by the freezing wind. The 3 Lil' Pigs are having fun in winter wonderland. Oink Oink oink.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Happy New Year 2009!

It is finally snowing! After days of freezing wind and sub-zero temperature, the first snow flakes finally fell as we rang in 2009. Since then it has been snowing almost non-stop! It even plunged to -20°C in the wee hours of today as the blizzard transforms Germany into a winter wonderland.

Three words to describe how I feel. I LOVE IT!!!

I know, I'm a little crazy!
Well, why wouldn't I when we have good heating and I've been indulging in hot chocolate and soup.

Too bad my dearest friend LL missed this beautiful sight. We were hoping it would snow during her visit just before Christmas last year.

Instead of just watching the snow from the window, we brought our Precious out for a short walk and let her feel the snow in the coldest winter in a decade. Aren't we the best parents? Ha ha ha.

Our Golden Piglet was curious about the snow. Papa Pig even let her taste the snow which she rejected it right away.

For now, we have "abadoned" our car which is under some 10 cm of snow. It's difficult if not dangerous to drive in such condition. Thank God the 3 Lil' Pigs have enough food so we don't have to brave the snow storm to do grocery.

So, let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Bye Bye 2008!

Today is the last day of 2008. I have to constantly remind myself that it's only a matter of hours before the year is over. Actually, it's already 2009 in Australia.Having an active Golden Piglet means 2008 has flown by doubly fast for Mama Pig and Papa Pig.

The 3 Lil' Pigs are staying home this freezing new year's eve.

No parties, no countdowns, no firecrackers. Just a simple early dinner at home and playing with Piglet before hitting bed.

Happy New Year 2009!

Oink Oink oink,

Mama Pig + Papa Pig = Golden Piglet

Marlen + Philipp = Liselotte

The 3 Lil' Pigs were thrilled that Marlen + Philipp = Liselotte visited them this afternoon. The last Stephan and I saw Marlene and Philipp was a little more than 3 years ago in Paderborn when we just got married.
How time flies and now the 4 of us are parents to 2 adorable toddlers! Liselotte is a real sweet heart. She is almost 2 months younger than Midori.Midori was glad to have Liselotte around, otherwise she might have felt left out and bored by us. The film below shows Midori showing Liselotte her treasure aka mommy's trash.

Thank u for your visit, Marlen + Phillip = Liselotte. Hopefully we'll see u in France!

Oink Oink oink,

The 3 Lil' Pigs

Expats In Görlitz

Mama Pig brought her Precious to meet other lady expats and their kids in Cafe Oriental this afternoon. Too bad most of them have left town by now, the 2nd Advent Sunday.

Above: R (Indonesia), Mama Pig (Indonesia), Golden Pig (Germany), J (Peru), J (USA)

Below: A (China), Mama Pig (Indonesia), Golden Pig (Germany), J (Peru), J (USA)

Hopefully, the turnout will be much better at the next meet.

Nikolaus Tag

It's Nikolaus Tag (St. Nicholas Day) today. Kids in Germany love this European festival because Santa will put gifts and sweets in the boots (Nikolaus-Stiefel) which the kids have left outside the front door the night before.We wanted to get our Sweetie Pie acquainted with Santa, so we went "hunting" for one in the local supermarket.

Now, doesn't it look like Mini Mrs. Santa was out doing Xmas shopping with her not-so-dwarfish black elf? Ha ha ha.

Unfortunately, we missed Santa because he had "Feierabend" (knocked off) some 4 minutes earlier than stated, so Mrs. Santa Jr. had to call Rudolph on Palm Centro to pick her up.Luckily our Piglet was too young to realize what she missed, but Papa Pig was very disappointed and chided Mama Pig for not remembering Santa's office hours.
Sorry Precious, Mama Pig will do better research and planning so you won't miss Santa and will get lots of sweets next year.

Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Liebe Oma!

Heute hat die liebe Oma Geburtstag.

Zum Geburtstag Viel Gluck

Zum Geburtstag Viel Gluck

Zum Geburtstag Viel Gluck

Zum Geburtstag Viel Gluck

Schade, dass wir deinen Geburtstag mit Dir nicht feiern konnten, weil wir zu weit weg von euch wohnen. Trotzdem denken wir immer an Dich.

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, Oma!

Alles Liebe aus Görlitz,

Lily + Stephan = Midori

Standing Tall

Our Precious Piglet stood confidently today after her first stand about 2 months ago. Midori loves to practise standing up on the bed.Our Golden Piglet finally did it! She stood tall and made Mama Pig and Papa Pig so proud of her.